Review of Being Human
in “The Journal,” UK, June 2004
What is it to be human? Is it
our human form and mind, unique amongst the rest of the
Earth’s creatures? Or is it something more? Something
that touches upon our inner being through potential and
possibility calling us to an awakened life? Something that
touches upon the unique purpose and promise of each
individual through connection to a higher power, something
outside ourselves which some refer to as God, the Source,
the Creator, or perhaps the One? What are the forces that
drive that connection which can so easily lead to a true
awakening of one’s inner worlds when in alignment
with one’s authentic nature?
It is the root of these questions that Solihin and Alicia
Thom, together with Alexandra ter Horst, explore through
their ground-breaking book, Being Human, published by Ad
Humanitas Press. In a world in which one’s outer life
often throws up obstacles and limitation to the unfolding
of one’s rich and inspiring inner world, Being Human
provides the tools to dig out and transform self-defeating
old patterns and ways of thinking, and presents a dynamic
framework based upon archetypal forms and symbols through
which new patterns of thinking and behavior can emerge
authentically.
Alive with personal stories from the jungles of Borneo to
the mountains of Oregon, the authors show through example
the miraculous effect that can occur when there is proper
alignment of the spiritual forces within our very souls. It
is true that we have all had, from time to time, the
feeling of being “out of sorts,” in a rut, or
even, sadly, genuinely distressed, slave to the imbalance
of unaligned inner forces. Through this powerful book, the
mystery of alignment is replaced with revealing insights in
how to go about shifting one’s unique inner forces
into life-changing servants, moving us towards harmony with
our own true self, with others and with God.
At a time in the world of great spiritual and ethical
unrest, to find a book such as Being Human is a great
comfort. To take the time reading it and thinking through
the very issues that define our humanness on a personal
level is clearly time well spent for any individual. And in
a very real way, such personal understanding may even
benefit humankind at large. For ultimately, any social or
spiritual transformation within the world begins in the
hearts and soul of humankind; ourselves, our brothers and
our sisters. Being Human not only provides the tools and
framework to support such a noble effort, but also lends
the inspiration to bring out the best in ourselves in what
it means to be human.
Carolanne Bundy